Signature-handling machine.



c. GITZENDANNER.

'SlGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8| I910.

- Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

I 7 215% an t C. G'ITZENDANNER.

SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. I910.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WW cows: WA 7 C. GITZENDANNER.

SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8,1910.

1,179,002., v Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- C. GITZENDANNER.

SIGNATURE HANDLING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8. 1910.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

m 5 vwenfoz rrap s raa is PATENT oarroa.

CHARLES GITZENDANNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO KAST INSETTING AND GATHERING MACHINE COMPANY, A

CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SIGNATURE-HANDLING MACHIN E.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

To all whom it may conce n Be it known that I, CHARLES GITZENDAN- NER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Signature-Handling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to book and pamphlet making machines and more particularly to machines for opening signatures and insetting or infolding them together.

Objects of the invention are to provide a novel mechanism for opening the signatures and infolding them; to provide rotatable, reciprocating opening devices; to provide for changing and controlling the speed of the signature opening devices during the different parts of their travel to secure an efficient opening action and also at the same time high speed of the machine with a corresponding large output; to provide for more complete adjustment and control of the signature holding means; to provide such adjustment and control in connection with pneumatic signature holding means. These and other objects of invention will in part be obvious and will in part more fully appear herein.

The invention consists in the novel parts, arrangements, improvements, constructions and combinations herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and forming a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the same serving in connection with the description herein to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section on the line A-B of Fig. 2 of a machine constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention; Fig. 2 is va side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig; 3 is a fragmentary elevation, partly diagrammatic, showing the mechanism as the signature is being delivered to the opening devices; Fig. 4 is a similar View showing the first stages of the signature opening movement; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the opening'of thesignature further advanced; Fig. 6 shows the partly opened signature in position upon the sig- Referring to the accompanying drawings,

illustrating by way of example one embodimentof the invention, suitable means are provided for supplying folded signatures, the embodied form of such means comprising a holder 1, provided with a bottom 2 extending only part way over the bottom area of the holder 1. Hinged to the front edge of the bottom 2 is a gate 3 adapted to swing up against the bottom signature in the box and downwardly therefrom. Said gate 3 is provided with a plurality of suction orifices 4 opening into the inner face of the gate, whereby when it contacts with the bottommost signature, the suction will draw the signature to the gate and cause it to bend downwardly with the gate as it swings away. Said'suction orifices are connected with a suitable source of suction (not shown). The gate 3 is somewhat narrower than the opening in the bottom of the box 1, whereby the end of the signature projects beyond the edge of the gate to permit the grippers to grip and take the sheet. Suitable means are provided for swinging the gate 3 to and fro, the gate having pivotally connected thereto an arm 5 fixed to a shaft 6, rotatably mounted in the machine frame. Fixed to the shaft 6 is an arm 7, the free end of said arm being pivotally connected to a link 8. The other end of the link 8 is yoked and straddles a stub shaft 9 on the machine frame. A cam roll 10 upon the link 8 cooperates with a cam 11 upon the shaft 9. A spring 12 acting on the arm 7 serves to hold the cam roll to its cam. A stop 13 is shown supporting the edge of the signatures-in the box 1,but permitting the bottom signature to pass as it is bent .down ward by the gate 3.

Suitable means are provided for withdrawing the signatures and forwarding them to the signature opening devices. The embodied formthereof comprises swinging arms 20 fixed to a shaft 21, which shaft is journaled on the machine frame. Fixed to the ends of the shaft 21 are crank arms 22. A rod 23 is pivotally attached to each crank arm 22 and connects at its other end to an eccentric 24. fixed to and rotating with the shaft 9. The arms 20 support a jaw 26 fixed relatively thereto and having a registering stop 27 attached thereto. Pivoted to the jaw 26 is a movable jaw 28. Connected at each end of the jaw 28 is a rearwardly extending arm 29. Pivoted to each arm 29 is a rod 30 having near its other-end a slot 31, which embraces the shaft 21. In the upper end of each rod 30 is shown a cam roll 32. The arms 20 extend past the shaft 21 and in its end each carries a stub shaft 33. Fixed to each shaft 33 is a cam 34 said cam cotiperating with the cam roll 32. Fixed also to each shaft 33 is a gear 35 meshing with the gear 36 fixed to rotate with a sleeve 37 upon the shaft 21. Fixed to the other end of each sleeve 37 is a sprocket wheel 38. A'sprocket chain 39 runs over said sprocket wheel 38 and over a sprocket wheel 40 fixed to rotate with the driven shaft 41. A suitable spring 42 acts upon the movable gripper jaw 28 to press the jaws together.

for the shaft 41,

Suitable driving means of any convenient form, are provided, a belt pulley 42 being shown herein for this purpose. A sprocket wheel 43 is shown fixed to the shaft 41 over which runs a sprocket chain 44, said chain running also over a sprocket wheel 45 fixed torotate with the shaft 46. A second sprocket wheel 47 is shown fixed to the shaft 46 over which runs the sprocket chain 48, said sprocket chain also running over the sprocket wheel 49 upon the shaft 9 to drive said shaft and actuate the parts associated therewith.

The manner of operation of the hereinbefore described mechanism is substantially as follows: The cam 11, through the rod 8 and arm 7 rocks the gate 3 to and from the bottom of the signature stack as shown in Fig. 1. The suction orifices 4 bring away and bend down the bottom signature,which projects beyond the front edge of the gate. The eccentrics 24 on the shaft 25 swing the arms 20 toward and away from the bentdown bottom signature as shown in Fig. 1. The cams 34 move the rods 30 to and fro to open and close the gripper 28 against its spring to cause the gripper to nip the bottom signature and to withdraw it and then to drop it in order that it may be progressed to and be operated upon by the signature opening devices. The signature released from the grippers is dropped upon an inclined support 60, which support has its lower end located close to the surface of the member as it reciprocates back to take a newsignature, and from this position is forwarded to said opening devices.

The form of signature-opening means included in the present embodiment comprises means reciprocating to and fro about a center, and in accordance with one feature of the invention comprises pneumatic means for taking hold of each side of the signature to open it apart by the movement of said reciprocating means. As embodied herein a section or segment of a cylinder 70 is shown supported free to rotate on a shaft 71 mounted in the machine frame. The shaft 71 has fixed thereto a gear wheel 72, with which gear wheel meshes a gear sector 73 pivotally mounted at 74 upon the machine frame. Pivotally connected to said sector at 75 is an arm 76, the other end of which is slotted at 77 to embrace the shaft 41. A cam roll 78 carried on said arm 76 works in a groove 79 of a-cam 80, fixed to said shaft. A collar 181 on shaft 41 serves to hold the rod 76 to position. Cooperating with the sector or segment 70 is a corresponding sector or segment 81 rotatably carried on a shaft 82. Said shaft 82 is supported in sliding boxes 83 upon the machine frame.

The cam 79 may be shaped to give a quick return movement to the opening member 70 and it is so shown in the drawings. That is, the downward opening movement of the cooperating opening members 70 and 81 is at a speed which may be found most advantageous for the work, and the return or idle movement may be at a much more rapid speed.

Means for adjusting the surfaces of the cylindrical members 70 and 81 relatively to each other are provided. As shown herein a spring 84 presses said sliding boxes 83 forward in their mountings on the frame. suitable adjusting screw 85 is threaded in the frame and attached to the box 83, the spring and screw working against each other. If desired the spring might be omitted, or an opposing screw acting against the opposite side of the box may be used, various forms of such adjustment for boxes and bearings being well known. The two cylindrical members 70 and 81 are moved in unison by. suitablemeans, the embodied form thereof comprising intermeshing gears 88 and 89 fixed to their peripheries.

Means are provided for forwarding the folded signatures to the signature opening devices. In the embodied form of such means, a spring pressed roller 90, or series of such rollers, operates against the surface of the member 70 at or near the end of the board 60. A series of curved fingers 91, mounted on a rod 92 serve to direct the signatures into the bite between the members 70 and 81. y

In accordance with one feature of the invention, pneumatic means for holding each side of the signature to the adjacent opening 4 surface of each of the members 70 and 81.

These orifices 95 communicate with the duct 96, one end of which is closed, and the other end communicating with a pipe 97. The pipe 97 communicates with an orifice 98 in a hub 99 of each of said oscillating members 70 and 81. Fixed on the machine frame is a block 110, said block. facing the hub 99. Said block 110 has two chambers therein, one a suction-chamber 111 connecting bya tube 112 with a suitable source of suction. The other chamber 113 is an exhaust or equalizing chamber, communicating by an opening 114 with the atmosphere or with some source of pressure. Each. of said chambers communicates with the face 115 of the block 110, which face bears upon the opposing face of the hub 99. Thus, as the hub 99 rotates the orifice in the hub connecting with the pipe 97 passes into communication with one of said chambers or with the other, or is cut off from both, in order to hold or to release the signature upon the said members.

Means are also provided by one feature of the invention for regulating the period of suction, if desired, for signatures of different sizes. A form of such means is included in the present embodiment. For this purpose the end of the block 110 facing on the hub 99 is of reduced diameter and is encircled by an annular band 120, said band being provided with an inwardly projecting blade 121 constituting a partition between the chambers 111 and 113. Said band may be movedcircumferentially in order to move the partition 121, thereby altering the size of the chambers 111 and 113, and correspondingly varying the duration of the suction exerted on the signature. In order to hold the band 120 in adjusted position a clamping plate 124 bears upon the external surface thereof through which plate passes a clamping screw 125, said clamping screw being threaded into the block 110.

Suitable means for receiving the open signatures and for keeping them open and also for progressing them so open are provided.

The illustrated form thereof comprises supports 130 and 131 extending longitudinally beneath the opening mechanism just described, and of general triangular shape in cross-section with the apex above. These supports thus accommodate the partlyopened signatures, as. they are dropped or deposited thereon from the opening devices. Said members 130 and 131 are carried upon supports 132 mounted upon the .machine frame.

The form of progressing means shown herein'comprises a sprocket chain 133 carried over a suitable sprocket wheel 135 mounted upon a shaft 136 conveniently carried upon one of the supports 132. Fixed to one of the shafts 136 is a second sprocket wheel 137 over which runs the sprocket chain 138. Said sprocket chain also runs over a sprocket wheel 139 fixed on the shaft 140. A bevel gear 141 fixed also to shaft 140 meshes with the-bevel ear 142 fixed to rotate with the driven sha t 46. Fingers 143 fixed to the sprocket chain 133 project upwardly through the opening between the top edge of the supporting members 130 and 131, to progress the signatures.

One of the principal purposes of the machine is to collect a plurality of signatures and to forward them to be operated upon collectively by some subsequent mechanism. The usual form of the machine will therefore comprise a plurality of the signature supplying devices and a plurality of the signature opening devices, the signature supporting means extending past a plurality of them, and the signature progressing means progressing the signatures from one set of supplying and opening devices to another so that as successive-signatures are opened they may be inset together and associated until the book or pamphlet is complete.

The manner of operation of the mechanism just described is substantially as follows: The signature with its open edge forward passes between the opening members 70 and the roller 90. The fingers 91 guide the signature between the bite on the members 70 and 81 (see Fig. As the signature comes between said members, the openings in each pipe 97 register with its suction chamber 111, and each half of the signature is then carried with the adjacent members 7 O or 81 as their surfaces diverge from each other, as shown in Fig. 4, thus opening the signature. The signature so opened passes to either side of the supportingmember 130 and 131, so that when it is released it will fall thereon. The signature is shown with one half passin to each side of the supporting device in Flg. 5 of the drawings. When each pipe 97 passes out of register with its suction chamber 111, the signature is released, and drops upon the supports 130 and 131 as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The open signature is then progressed along, and the next succeeding signature is dropped thereon, so as to infold the first signature, and this operation may be repeated by successive sets of mechanism until the book or pamphlet is made up.

It will be obvious that the suction cham her 111 upon the member 71 may be elongated if desired so that the suction in that 7 O, at the foot of the inclined board 60, this suction being used'to carry the signature forward to the member 81, the suction in both said members then cooperating to open the book.

In Figs. 9 and 10 the eccentric 24 is shown adjustable to vary the throw of'the grippers 26-28 for signatures of various sizes. For this purpose the shaft 9 is provided with an eccentric disk 150 having on the face thereof a second disk 151 provided with slots 152 and 153 in which are the clamping screws 154 and 155. The disk 151 may be moved relatively to the shaft 9 to vary its eccentricity, which serves to vary the throw of the rod 23 and therefore the swing of the jaws.

From all the foregoing it willbe understood that a machine has been provided which realizes the advantages and objects of invention herein setforth, together with other such objects and advantages.

The invention, in its broader aspects, is not limt'ed to the particular constructions shown, nor to any particular construction by which it has been or may be carried into effect, as many changes may be made in the construction without departing from the main principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A signature-handling machine including in combination two opposed oscillating signature-opening elements, means feeding signatures to said elements open edge foremost, and a support on which the opened signatures are deposited and held open.

2. A signature-handling machine including in combination a plurality of opposed oscillating signature opening elements, means feeding signatures to said elements open edge foremost, and a support on which the opened signatures are deposited and held open.

3. A signature handling machine including in combination cooperating oscillating devices for opening a signature, means for supplying a folded signature open edge foremost to said devices near the beginning of their travel in one direction, and a support on which the opened signatures are deposited and held open. I

4. A signature handling machine including in combination cooporatingoscillating devices provided with means for opening signatures, means for supplying signatures open edge foremost thereto one at a time near the beginning of their travel in one direction, and a support on which the opened signature is deposited and held open.

5. A signature handling machine including in combination cooperating oscillating devices provided with pneumatic means for opening signatures, means for supplying signatures open edge foremost thereto one at a time near the beginning of their travel in one direction, and a support on which the opened signature is deposited and held open.

6. A signature handling machine including in combination oscillating devices for receiving a signature open edge foremost therebetween and engaging said signature at each side to open it, and a support on which the opened signature is deposited and held open.

7. A signature handling machine includ ing in combination cooperating oscillating devices to which signatures are fed open edge foremost which devices open the signatures while traveling in one direction, and means receiving the opened signature and holding it open.

8. A signature handling machine including in combination cooperating oscillating devices to which signatures are fed and which open the signatures while traveling in one direction, a support arranged below said devices on which the opened signatures "are deposited and held open, and means for progressing the opened signatures along said support.

9. A signature handling machine including in combination cooperating traveling members for engaging and opening a signature, means for varying the speed of said members, and a support on which said opened signature is deposited and held open.

10. A signature handling machine including in combination cooperating members which travel together first in one direction and then in the opposite direction, said members being provided with means for engaging and holding for a portion of their movement the opposite sides .of a signature and opening it, and means increasing the speed of said members in one direction;

11. A signature handling machine including in combination cooperating traveling members, pneumatic means carried thereby for engaging and opening a signature, and means for varying the duration of the action of said pneumatic means upon the signature, and a support on which the opened signature is deposited and held open.

12. A signature handling machine including in combination twoopposed traveling members, pneumatic means carried thereby for engaging and holding for a portion of the movement of said members each side of a signature passing therebetween near the front edges thereof whereby the movement of said members serves to open the signature, and means for varying the duration of the action of said pneumatic means upon the signature.

13. A signaturehandling machine including in combination two opposed cooperating traveling members,- means for causing said members to engage and hold for a portion of the movement of said members the sides of a signature passing therebetween near the front edge thereof, and means for varying the duration of the action of said causing means;

14. A signature handling machine including in combination two traveling members,

means for causing said membersto engage and hold during a portion of said travel the sides of a signature-passing therebetween and means for varying the duration of the action of said causing means to open the signature and to deliver it opened.

15. A signature handling machine including in combination two opposed cylindrical members, pneumatic means for causing said members to engage and hold during a por tion of said travel the sides of a signature passing therebetween, and means for varying the duration of the action of said pneu-- matic means to open thesignature and to deliver it opened.

16. A signature handling machine including in combination two opposed cylindrical members moving about their respective centers, means for supplying a folded signature therebetween open edge first, means for causing said members to engage and hold for a portion of a rotation each side of the signature near said open edge, and means for determining'the duration of such engagement.

17. A signature handling machine includ-' ing in combination two opposed cylindrical members moving about their respective centers, means for supplying a folded signature therebetween open edge first, means for causmg sa1d members to engage and ,hold for. a

. portion of a rotation each side of the signature near said open edge as said open edge passes therebetween and for releasing said edges at a later point in the movement ofsaid cylindrical member, and means for de- .terminingthe duration of such engagement.

18. A signature handling machine including in combination two opposed cylindrical members reciprocating about-their respective centers, means for supplying a' folded signature therebetween open edge first,

means for causing said members to engage each side of the signature near said open edge.

19. A signature handling machine includ means for causing said members to engage each s1de of the slgnature' near sa1d open edge as said open edge passes therebetween and for releasing said edges at a later point in the movement of said cylindrical members.

20. A signature handling machine including in combination two opposed cylindrical members reciprocating about their respective centers, means for supplying a folded signature therebetween open edge first,

means for causing said members to engage each side of the signature near said open edge,.. and means for causing said engaging means to' operate during the movement of said cylindrical members in one direction but not in the opposite direction.

I 21. A signature handling machine including in combination two opposed cylindrical members, .each reciprocating about its own center, means for feeding a signature therebetween open edge foremost, suction devices on each of said members and means for controlling said suction devices to engage the signature at each side near its open edge and to release it. at a later point in the reciprocation of said members.

22. A signature handling machine includ- In-testimony whereof, I have signed my.

name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing, witnesses. CHARLES GITZENDANNER. Witnesses:

J on); D. MoaoAN, WlYL- H. ifHORTON. 

